Marinol is available in capsule form only with a prescription from a physician. The manmade medication is a synthetic form of the active ingredient in marijuana. The active ingredient in Marinol is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is also the active ingredient in marijuana. When taking this medication, patients need to be under the close supervision of a physician and pharmacist to monitor for any drug interactions or side effects. Marinol is currently used to treat a number of medical conditions.
Nausea and Vomiting
Marinol is often prescribed for nausea, with or without vomiting. According to Drugs.com, other methods of nausea control are usually exhausted before Marinol is prescribed by a physician. Marinol is typically only used in patients with severe nausea and vomiting, which is often associated with chemotherapy treatment and the AIDS virus.
Pain
Marinol has been shown to provide increased pain relief when taken in combination with opioid pain relievers, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. The active ingredient in Marinol, THC, is believed to bind with pain receptors to reduce the transmission of pain through the spinal cord and brain.
Loss of Appetite
Patients who suffer from AIDS or who are enduring chemotherapy to rid the body of cancer often suffer with loss of appetite. This loss of appetite can lead to anorexia, which can be harmful in and of itself to the organs within the body. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Marinol is often prescribed by physicians to induce appetite with favorable results.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Some researchers believe that Marinol may be effective in treating and controlling obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. It is believed that the active ingredient in Marinol, THC, will increase serotonin reuptake in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for feel-good emotions. Research is underway, however, at this time there is not enough clinical data to support this claim.
References
- Drugs.com: Marinol
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Dronabinol (Marinol) as Add-On Therapy for Patients on Opioids for Chronic Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Marinol in Trichotillomania or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Potential Merits of Cannabinoids for Medical Uses
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Marinol
